Drapery and grille structure.



LOUIS B. CHRISTOPHERSON, OF SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA;

DRAPERY AND GRILLE STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. 1 Pate ted an. 30,1912.

Application filed December 29, 1910. Se1'ia1. 1 1'o.599,868f

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS B. C1nus'rornnnsox, citizen of the United States, residing at San Jose, in the county ofSanta Clara and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Drapery and Grille Structures, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a decorative element, and particularly pertains to drapery and portiere constructions.

It is the object of this invention to provide a decorative element of novel design and construction which is applicable to a variety of uses, and which'is especially suitable and appropriate for forming draperies, portieres, curtains, festoons and other ornamental decorations of a like nature.

Another object is to provide a decorative element which is so constructed as to permit of a diversity of geometrical arrangements and forms, and which may be interlaced and interwoven into flexible shapes of innumerable designs.

A further object is to provide a unique method of combining flexible or pliable materials, such as thongs of leather, with rigid or inflexible materials, such as glass, wood, metal and the like, so as to form a network or filigree structure which may be draped to conform to various contours and surfaces.

The invention consists of the parts and the combination and construction of parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an elevated view of a form of the invention as assembled. Fig. 2 is a de tail in perspective of a single element. Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective showing the manner of forming a strand or series of the elements. Fig. A is a detail showing a modification of the invention. Fig. 5 is a cross section on the line 'XX, Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing the manner of constructing the invention in sheet form.

In the drawings, A represents flexible thongs or strands, which are formed of leather or other suitable material and may be of any convenient length and of any desired shape in cross section. These thongs or strands A are here shown as constructed of the ordinary round leather belting of commerce, which is adapted to answer the purpose for which it is intended by forming a series of slits 2-3, at suitable intervals throughout its length, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.' These slits 23 are here shown as of dilferentlengths and are alter nated in arrangement where a thong A is of suihcient length to, so permlt. The purpose of the sl t 2 is; to forma perforation or eyelet in the thong through which one or more -thongs A may be threaded so as to connect crossing thongs to form a fieX1- ble network, as shown'in Fig. 1. The slit 3 is provided for the purpose of inserting a non-flex1ble materlal 4:, here shown as flat land elliptical inform, which, when placed in the slit 3 stretches the separated halves position.

While the showing in the drawing illustrates the application ofthe invention to a portiere or hanging and as arranged in a conventional leaf design, it is manifest that a multitude of shapes and arrangements of the parts may be made without varying the principles of construction here shown.

It is also obvious that any material of any suitable "shape may be inserted in the slits 3 and supported by the flexible binding thongs A, opalescent glass, various woods and other decorative materials being employed to fill the slits 3 as desired.

The flexible nature of the structure permits of its being used for many purposes, it being equally applicable for use in wall decorations, ornamentations or archways, and as a drapery for furniture, lamp shades and the like, the uses of the ornamental network being in fact as broad as its construction will admit.

In Figs. 4 and 5, of the drawings, I have shown a slightly modified form of constructing the invention, in which the decorative shape 4:, here represented as glass, is mounted in a lead strip or bead 5, which is lapped over on both faces of the glass. This bead 5 has a channel formed on its outer edge in which the flexible thong A extends, the rims on the bead 5 holding the thong in place. The head 5 thus serves to bind the glass to the thong and prevents the formerfrom bein easily displaced.

In the foregoing description I have particularly specified the materials employed in the construction of my invention as leather thongs, glass shapes, and a lead bead; however, in view of the wide range of materials which could be employed in lieu thereof I do not limitmyself to the exact materials herein specified.

The essence of this invention resides in providing a flexible and adjustable connection or joining member for non-flexible members, which is subject to innumerable variations, and while here shown as in the form of a filigree structure, it is equally applicable to the construction of a sheet structure, as shown in Fig. 6, in which event thefiexible material would be disposed between the adjacent edges of the non-flexible members so that the sheet structure as a whole would have a certain pliability.

Having thus described my invent-ion, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a decorative hanging, a flexible member having a slit and a non-flexible shape supported in said slit between the walls thereof.

2. In a decorative hanging, a series of flexible members provided wit-h slits, and rigid shapes conforming to and serving to expand the Walls of said slits.

3. In a decorative hanging, a series of interwoven flexible members, perforations in each of said members through which other of the members pass, slits in each of said members, and shapes mounted in said slits. 4. In a decorative hanging, a series of interwoven flexible members, perforations in each of said members through which other of the members pass, slits in each of said members adjacent a perforation, and ornamental shapes disposed in said slits.

5. In a decorative hanging, a series of interwoven flexible members, perforations in each of said members through. which other of the members pass, slits in each of said members adjacent a perforation, and ornamental shapes disposed in said slits, said shapes serving to lock said interwoven flexible members together.

6. In a drapery, a series of flexible thongs, perforations in each of said thongs, through which other thongs may pass to form an interlaced structure, and slits in said thongs in which ornamental shapes are mounted, said shapes serving to bind the interwoven members together.

7. In a drapery, an interwoven network of flexible thongs, means by which non-flexible materials may be mounted in said thongs, said non-flexible materials serving to bind the interwoven network together.

8. In a drapery, a constructive element comprising a flexible thong having a perforation through which other thongs may be threaded, and having a slit and a decorative form mounted in said slit.

9. A drapery comprising a series of glass shapes, lead beads surrounding said shapes, flexible material surrounding said lead beads and connecting adjacent glass shapes to form a pliable beaded glass structure.

In testimony whereofv I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LOUIS B. CHRISTOPHERSON.

lVitnesses ELsIn M. FULLER, MARIE Serum).

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

